Thursday, the Spokesperson of the US Secretary-General, has indicated, to the claimants’ representatives that their claims introduced in November 2011, against the United Nations (UN), on behalf of the victims of the cholera epidemic in Haiti, are not receivable, pursuant to Section 29 of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. The Secretary-General telephoned Haitian President Michel Martelly to inform him of the decision.

The Secretary-General again expresses his profound sympathy for the terrible suffering caused by the cholera epidemic, and calls on all partners in Haiti and the international community to work together to ensure better health and a better future for the people of Haiti.

Following this announcement, Nigel Fisher, Special Representative of the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations in Haiti and acting Head of the Minustah in Haiti, has expressed his deep sorrow and expressed his solidarity with the many Haitian families who have lost loved ones in this epidemic.

Mr. Fisher was not able to comment on the legal aspects of this decision, the United Nations practice is not to discuss or comment on the details of the public claims against the United Nations or responses provided.

He recalled that at the time of the outbreak of the cholera epidemic in Haiti in late 2010, he was Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator of the United Nations and stressed that the United Nations, with the Government and many other partners, have mobilized to fight with determination the disease which caused terrible suffering to so many Haitians.

"The United Nations family has devoted considerable human and financial resources to the fight against cholera. This includes the efforts of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO / WHO), UNICEF and the Minustah.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations launched on December 11 its Initiative for the elimination of cholera in Haiti, in support of the national plan for the elimination of disease. Significant funding associated with this initiative, from bilateral and multilateral donors, be used to support the implementation of immediate and long term efforts.

PAHO / WHO has also developed a broad coalition of international partners to support this initiative andto the National Plan for Elimination of cholera, and UNICEF is in the process of establishing a special fund to fight against the disease.

Similarly, Dr. Paul Farmer was appointed Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for the lessons of Community Medicine in Haiti, a function in which he will bring his support to the initiative and the national authorities."

Nigel Fisher reaffirmed the continued commitment of the United Nations family to support Haiti and its people in the fight against cholera noting that through these efforts, the current infection rate represents only 10% of what they were at the peak of the epidemic.

HL/ HaitiLibre